Abu Dhabi Duty Free aims for $100m sales

Lorna Strickland

Print Article E-Mail Article E-Mail Author

The company anticipates strong sales growth to the end of 2006 as two new terminals open at Abu Dhabi International airport

The Gulf Traveller terminal—T1A—was opened specifically for passengers on Gulf Air's all-economy subsidiary. It includes a 150sq m (1,614sq ft) retail area offering liquor, tobacco, confectionery, beauty and electrical products plus toys and gifts. Tickets for the retailer's Big Ticket Dh1.5m ($408,720) monthly raffle will be available from a counter and the terminal will also house a small café. Passengers from 15 airlines will use T2, which boasts 850sq m (9,146sq ft) of airside retail space as well as an arrivals store and a 250sq m (2,690sq ft) landside shop.

European design agency Raylin designed the retail areas to offer a similar shopping environment to T1, using the existing terminal's shop-in-shop concept with colour-coded product category sections.

Mounib said: "Thanks to the support of the Civil Aviation Authority we were able to achieve the success we have had with this project in a very short time, not only in duty-free but in all the outlets concerned. These new facilities will ensure quality of service and the high standard we are known for. We are looking forward to the retail opportunities that this influx will bring. We hope to exceed the $100m mark next year."

Meanwhile the company has recruited additional staff for the new terminals. ADDF already invests Dh5m ($1.39m) annually in employee training schemes. Training manager Colin Reynolds said: "Before beginning a new job, it is critical to give them a few days to adapt to their surroundings. Once settled, they complete a two-day induction followed by on-the-job training, in order for them to acclimatise themselves to all aspects of duty-free."

In 2004 1,300 staff members were given full training, which includes performance appraisals and courses in leadership, negotiation, business communication and customer services. In order to reward and motivate staff Abu Dhabi International airport presents the best performing employees with certificates and monetary rewards.